Page 20 of Abundant Moon
“No. The land is unfamiliar to me, though one of the faces looked much like Ben’s brother, Jonah.”
Mia considered this for a moment, wondering if it related to the other dreams she’d heard about.
“Aren’t Evan and Jack having dreams about humans also?”
“Yes, but theirs are of humans in general discovering what we truly are. My dream seems specific to one place and person. They may be connected, but it is not clear. I shall contact Evan and Jack later to see what they think.”
Mia assumed her mate wanted to begin the day, which meant fixing breakfast. She moved to get up, but Everet pulled her on top of him. Her long hair formed a curtain around their faces and he tasted her lips as if for the first time. Tender, moist kisses on each lip in turn, even as his cock grew to full length between them. She moaned, shifted slightly, and encased his hard shaft in wet, silky, heat. Breakfast could wait.
####
BEN’S HOME OFFICE
The phone rang twice before being picked up; a cheery familiar voice on the other end.
“Dowling Realty, this is Carol Jo. How may I help you?”
“Ben Blair here, Carol Jo. I have a project for you if you’re interested.”
“Hello, Mr. Blair! At this time of year my schedule is wide open. Are you looking at a specific property?”
“Not exactly. Some of my friends are interested in opening local businesses of their own. What I need is a list of available commercial properties, businesses for sale, or even land deals in and around Gladstone. I’m looking for a detailed summary, including location, date of availability, sale or lease price and terms, along with any related information. I realize you know an awful lot of people in the area, so don’t be afraid to include possibilities that are unknown to the public.”
Ben heard the woman furiously taking notes on the other end of the line.
“I see! It may take me a day or two. Any types of businesses I should specifically include or exclude? Are there price or distance limitations? Should I add investment properties as well?”
Ben considered her questions briefly.
“At this point, include it all. I don’t want to miss any possibilities simply because I didn’t see the potential. Please remember I prefer my inquiries to remain anonymous, and Iknowyou will be discreet. One more thing. Not only do I intend to pay you for your time, you will receive an extra bonus on top of your usual fee for each deal that goes through. Would you be interested?”
As intended, he’d flustered the gregarious human with such a generous offer, ensuring her cooperation on several levels – even if she didn’t realize it.
“Oh my! Yes, Mr. Blair, I’m interested. When I’ve finished, shall we meet in person or do you prefer I send the information?”
“Tell you what, print it up for me and leave it with my brother Jonah at the LRC office. After I’ve taken a look, we can make arrangements to discuss the possibilities in person.”
“I can do that! On a personal note, did you and your husband enjoy the holidays?”
Ben chuckled. The woman excelled at being nosy without offending. A useful skill in her line of work.
“We did, thank you. Oh, by the way, Katrine and Mandy asked me to let you know they both gave birth to girls on Christmas day: Noel and Holly.”
He jerked the phone away from his ear to avoid the excited squealing.
“That’s amazing! What were the chances they’d deliver on the same day? And on Christmas! This is wonderful news. Please congratulate them for me, and I’ll be sure to stop in and see them when they reopen.”
“I’ll let them know, and I believe they intend to open the shop for half days starting next week. You have a pleasant day now, and feel free to email me with any questions.”
Ben ended the call with some measure of relief. Carol Jo, though an excellent realtor, could only be experienced in small doses. Hopefully, she’d find some viable opportunities for his growing pack. He’d probably have to keep Carol Jo on retainer to stay abreast of things as time went on. Real estate was an ever-changing world, and not his specialty. She would be well worth whatever he paid her, and in return, his people got first choice. Ben smiled thinking of all the possibilities.
####
KEN AND PATTY WINNwere unable to reach Gladstone for a solid week, due to inclement weather. As soon as the roads were safe to travel, they arrived with happy hugs and a trunk stuffed with gifts from them and Ryan’s siblings. The babies reacted favorably to their scent, as it carried overtones of their father, and therefore deemed familiar. The girls each had some Winn features, whether dark hair, dimples, or small earlobes, and looked similar enough to be considered twins by humans. In some fashion they would end up being raised that way, though Katrine and Mandy earnestly wanted them to be the unique individuals they were. Siblings, yes. Carbon copies, no.
The Winns were positively horrified by the harrowing account of their birth. By the time Katrine finished telling the story, they were all in tears, upsetting the babies who then refused to sleep without being held. On the other hand, Ryan’s parents were stunned to discover Holly and Noel were given Winn as their last name. More tears ensued, pleasant ones at the thought of their son’s legacy. Eventually, they pulled out the family photo albums to fill in the knowledge gaps regarding Ryan’s childhood and early adult years.
Their few days together were ones of laughter, shared meals, gift exchanges, and lots of one on one baby time. Along with taking a multitude of photos, they arranged a FaceTime call with Ryan’s siblings, who promised to come for a visit in the spring. Before leaving for home, Ben invited them all over for supper, thus introducing Evie and her brothers to the two new pack members. All in all, the visit ended up drawing them closer together with promises to remain in regular contact.
